You say this is for small mill so probably 300mm max travel
450 ish from memory (too cold to go out and measure :0D) I see your point thought. I was looking on U tube to get a feel for what speeds people were using and 5m/min looked about right but 2.5m/min seems abit slow. Im not aiming for 30m/min like some of the routers but I remember back to when I got the other x-y table up and running (4mm pitch and 3:1, so 1.3m/min) it was painfully slow waiting for it home.

The other minor problem is that in the interrim I need this to make the parts (in Al) for the other machines, hence a changeable resolution


Personally I'd go for 2.5mm or 3mm pitch 1:1 for the torque and resolution and use Lead shine closed loop steppers.! This will make a nice and very accurate machine plenty fast enough for SS.
do you mean the encoder based systems or the digital hybrid ones? the encoder ones look as pricey as servos! the hydbid are much cheaper and some seem to be able to reach 3000rpm! if thats correct then problem solved.

With so many on the net could you point in the right direction

2.5 or 3mm pitch? is that belt tooth pitch or ball screw?


Thanks for your input, most appreciated.